Zero waste school
St. Paisii Hilendarski Secondary School ·Bulgaria
About this project
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Food waste in schools and kindergartens is a significant issue, especially the lack of awareness regarding </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">its</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif"> harmful environmental impacts. This issue affects not just educational institutions but also the broader community. Schools and kindergartens generate substantial amounts of food waste, but there is insufficient knowledge on how to reduce waste generation or practice recycling. This is a challenge for both educational systems and the local population's sustainability practices. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">In response to this problem, the partnering Bulgarian participants, together with the Norwegian partner IDN, will work together to introduce an innovative model for a "school without food waste." The project will involve implementing key strategies aimed at reducing food waste in schools, using Norway's successful waste reduction practices as model.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">One important milestone of the project is obtaining the "Green Flag" certification. The Green Flag certification is an international environmental award granted to schools that meet sustainability and waste management standards. The schools </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">will undertake</span></span> <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">steps to achieve this certification, which will be an essential recognition of their commitment to reducing food waste and promoting environmental responsibility. To achieve this, the project will incorporate several interactive and engaging activities such as games, competitions, and workshops. These activities are designed to raise awareness among students and educators about the importance of reducing food waste. Games and competitions involve challenges where students compete to reduce f</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">ood waste or create sustainable waste management solutions. Workshops will provide opportunity for students to learn about waste separation, composting, and food sustainability practices. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">By promoting these practices in schools, the project supports a sustainable, circular approach to managing food waste</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif"> and </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">also encourages students to implement these practices in their homes and communities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"> </p>
Bilateral cooperation results
Sustainable development and environmental protection are an important part of the framework plan for kindergartens and schools in Norway. This is why the shared Norwegian experience was of key significante to successfully achive the project objectives related to raising awareness about sustainable practices, introduced effective waste management systems, and provided long-term solutions to ensure the continued education of students and the wider community on environmental sustainability. Also, the shared good practices from the Norwegian partner on obtaining and working under the Green Flag initiative were essential for the Bulgarian experts to find ways of helping children and young people to discover that the local community is committed to protecting the environment by helping to create a more sustainable future through local environmental initiatives led by them
Project partners
- International Development Norway AS Donor project partner· Norway
- "Hristo Botev" Primary School, Kraynitsi village Project partner· Bulgaria
- "Hristo Botev" High School, Dupnitsa Project partner· Bulgaria
- "Green industry, innovation and technology transfer" Foundation Project partner· Bulgaria